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The BLUE RIDGE VOYAGEURS Newsletter DECEMBER 2019
This newsletter or the contents of this newsletter may not be duplicated or recirculated without permission of the editor.
Club Business at the Put-in: President’s Report The Fall was unseasonably cold and some paddling plans were interrupted. An October 19-20
release on Stonycreek was cancelled because of draw-down for maintenance. There were some
hopes to start BRV trips to the Lehigh, but the mega-release weekend was thought to a bit too
much for a debut run. The season closed out with some trips to see the Ghost Ships at Mallows
Bay the last weekend in October and during the Veterans Day weekend. We were able to take
one of our speakers, Deborah Landau, and her family on this trip.
We are now working to set up trips for the upcoming year. Ed Gertler is the first on the docket
with his Icebreaker trip, March 7 to Sleepy Creek or something similar. The National Paddling
Film Fest will be February 21 and 22 in Frankfort, KY; npff.org/. Charlie Duffy will provide
information on the annual ropes course when he hears from the Park Service or arranges another
venue. We are also waiting for release schedules. Be like Bob Whiting, who took the time to
figure out how to improve access to the Staircase (Shenandoah) and Needles (Potomac) river
sections, and Mike Martin, who led the biggest BRV trip of the year on the Needles. We are also
looking for a trip wrangler to help fill out the trip schedule on the web and in the
newsletter.
We had a wide variety of programs in 2019, but now we are also looking for programs at our
2020 meetings. Your program does not need to take up the entire meeting. We can combine it
with other programs. Ed Gertler again is first on the docket and will present his Baltic country
paddling adventures. This will be Monday, January 7.
Our Holiday party went off without a hitch despite my not being able to be there. Wendy came in
my stead. Thank you all for the assortment of paddling-related gifts. I had better get off the
couch after a tough year and start paddling.
If you did not pay your $10 to Mark Wray (VP and party master), please contact him
(redshoestwo [at] juno.com) so that Clark Childers (our treasurer, kcchilders3 [at] gmail.com)
can close out the books.
If you did not pay your dues at the party or did not yet mail your dues to Ginny DeSeau (1105
Highwood Road, Rockville, MD 20851). Please make sure that we have the correct contact
information for you (address, e-mail address, and phone numbers).
We are also looking for folks to consider officer and board positions. And no, I will not be
president-for-life!
SYOTR…. Rick Koller
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Club Business at Put-in: President’s Report 1 Boating Trivia: On holiday --
Meeting: Upcoming 2 Boating Humor 22
Meetings: Prior Fall Meetings 2 Feature #2: Wilderness 1st Aid--Sport Specific 22
Events: Holiday Party 3 For Sale or Swap: Sea Kayak 24
Feature #1: Accident Avoidance 4 At the Takeout: River Stamps 25
Trip Report: Toe Gorge 6 At the Takeout: This & That 26
Trip Report: Casselman 11 Member Form 27
Trip Report: Valley Falls Clinic 14 Quick Trip Report Form 28
Trip Report: Giant Needles Trip 15 Logo Sticker/Other Items Purchase Instructions 28
UPCOMING MEETINGS Our first presenter of the 2020 will be our own Ed Gertler, who has done many exploratory runs
and has a guidebook line (https://paddlersguides.wordpress.com/). He will be talking about his
adventures in the Baltic countries. We have finalized the date: Monday, January 7. It will be held
at the Clara Barton Recreation Center at 7 PM sharp. Ledo’s has early winter closing hours so we
need to be there earlier than usual or to dine elsewhere.
We have some tentative plans for programs for upcoming meetings including more movies from
the National Paddling Film Festival, Susan Eda’s video clips from the Bad Idea Theater (pool
toys on Nantahala Falls), a slide show about the waterfall clinic at Valley Falls (Tygart River),
and a slide show of the Slalom Nationals held at Dickerson in the Fall.
In addition, we are always looking for good programs and can help you put your images into a
format for display, e.g., PowerPoint or Proshow Gold. We also could use a program wrangler
and/or a person to take charge of/serve as back-up for care of the AV equipment.
RECENT MEETINGS There was some uncertainty as to the availability of the Clara Barton recreation Center for
meetings so the schedule was interrupted. Other venues, including the Bethesda library, were
assessed for availability beyond 8 PM, price, and parking. In the end, we were able to continue to
use the Clara Barton site until 9 PM. Whew!
October 2, 2019
We had a packed house for Kent Ford’s “The Call of the River”. The 90 minute video is chock
full of paddling history. It provides information on what gunwale pumping, fold boats, RC
gauges, and shoe keels are; how boat decks, canoe thigh straps, spray skirts, float bags, and
pogies came to be boating gear; why canoeing emerged in North America and kayaking and the
roll emerged in Europe; and why roto-molding was crucial to free-style boating and creek
boating. It also identifies the paddler who ran from the French Broad River to the Mississippi
River and had a rapids on the French Broad named after him, the first rafting outfitter in the East
(still in existence on the Yough), the first major downriver race in Colorado and a race that drew
many Europeans who later advanced paddlesport in the U.S., the Idaho paddler who developed
the style of big water paddling, the location of the first whitewater rodeo (1977), and the fireman
and California paddler who developed the iconic “River Chaser”.
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If these were not enough reasons to see the video, we were also treated to cameos of local
legends Ed Gertler and Lou Matacia.
For those who missed it, we could schedule a reshowing during a wintry weekend.
November 13, 2019
We had a double feature meeting. Risa Shimoda talked about the new inductees into the
International Whitewater Hall of Fame (IWHoF). Many of these inductees were featured in the
Kent Ford video, “The Call of the River” that we saw in October. We also learned that the plans
for establishing the World River Center in Richmond are being altered because of a change in
development scope by the property owners. Sites such as that in Asheville, which will be putting
in a play wave on a Class 2-3 section of the French Broad, may come into contention again.
We topped off the evening with movies from the National Paddling Film Fest including “A
Woman Knows Her Place”, “Embrace the Carnage”, and “Klinaklini” (an attempted descent of
a steep river by a female crew in British Columbia).
Holiday Party December 14, 2019
There were several changes to the Winter Holiday Party. We switched venues from the
community center in Virginia because of the new need for a liquor license if beer or wine was
available. We were able to book the gymnasium at the Clara Barton Recreation Center. We also
changed the date to be the weekend following the CCA event to avoid party overload.
The new venue permitted the set-up crew to drive-up to the backdoor entrance and off-load
supplies. There was room to set up a dues booth (managed by Ginny DeSeau), an adult
beverages table, an appetizer table, a main course and dessert table, table seating for everyone, a
place of honor for the Rolling Barbie, and movie seating. Mark Wray, Mike Martin, and others
arranged for the main courses and drinks. There were tokens of appreciation for the Club
officers—including Rick, who will be passing his leadership canoe paddle baton. There were
drawings for those who had contributed to the club by leading trips or writing newsletter articles.
There were three winners of the boating trivia contest, Lisa Fallon, David Newsom, and Hendrik
van Oss. (You have until January 31 to reach the 200 point level—as we still have a couple of
remaining prizes!) There were also door prizes for those attending the party. Gus Anderson was
the winner of the silent auction for a unique whitewater opportunity in Costa Rica on the Pacuare
River. This was offered by the International Whitewater Hall of Fame and Rios Tropicales.
(Thank you, Risa Shimoda!) Many thanks as well to John Duke, who donated gift certificates for
his paddler-oriented maps.
In addition to celebrating the Winter Holidays, we celebrated the wedding anniversary of Glen
Johnston and Jo Cox, along with Glen’s birthday, with some wickedly good desserts. Then in our
carbohydrate stupor, we proceeded to watch paddling flicks from the National Paddling Film
Festival. We started off learning about “CanoeHeads”, a unique species located near northern
waterways. “Ride the Green Machine” and “Facing the Gorgon” showed us underwater
paddling in squirt boats in Tennessee (Hiwassee) and West Virginia (Gauley). We also enjoyed
more carnage thrills and spills filmed on the Ocoee.
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FEATURE ARTICLE #1 Accident Avoidance in Paddling—Charlie Duffy
Introduction
Paddling is far from a risk-free sport. One look at the American Whitewater Safety Database
and you will see, we average roughly 70 reported accidents each year.
Fortunately, most accidents can be avoided via:
• Careful trip planning
• Well maintained and suitable equipment
• Strong situational awareness
• Physical fitness and training
• Sound judgment
When an accident does take place, your ability to mitigate damages is mainly through:
• Rescue training (I strongly recommend taking a swiftwater rescue course every couple of
years.)
• First aid training (I recommend certification with biannual maintenance training.)
• Proper rescue equipment and a well-stocked first aid kit
• Communication equipment such as your cell phone
N.B. The Team River Runner website under chapter resources has many articles on planning,
equipment, maintenance, safety and rescue, and first aid. This article will address some of the
other risk mitigation activities.
Situational Awareness
When we first start paddling, we have a narrow and short field of vision. For many, this may
only be a boat length or two in front of them. When working with new paddlers, have them lead
on easier rapids to build self-confidence and break the all too common habit of following
another’s lines instead of thinking for themselves. Following too closely places them and others
in significant jeopardy when there isn’t adequate space for reaction time. Accidents can result or
be compounded.
As we gain more boat control skills, we get far more comfortable using our hips as shock
absorbers and to maintain balance. Along with this level of skills, our downstream vision
increases from a few yards to eventually entire rapids, which may be in excess of 100 yards.
Strainers, pinning rocks, bad hydraulics, and the like are recognized with adequate time to
maneuver away from them. At this stage of your paddling career, I highly recommend running a
wide variety of rivers at your comfortable skill level. Many paddlers stick to very few runs,
which inhibits learning to read a wide variety of whitewater features.
The next stage of development is trip leading and running in the scout position. Both these roles
place a premium on planning, judgment, and peripheral vision. Up to now, we have concen-
trated on looking downstream along the route you planned to run. What happens if you miss
your line or discover an underwater hazard like a submerged log? Periodic scanning both sides
of your line along with quick evaluations give you lots of options. Experienced paddlers
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navigate rapids catching lots of eddies. Besides providing valuable safe breaks, eddies also make
it easy to scout many alternate lines.
Another aspect of situational awareness is evaluation of other related factors such as weather,
rising or falling water levels, the condition of your fellow paddlers, trip progress, etc. All these
factors are crucial in safety and risk management.
Judgment
Many young and athletic individuals see their paddling skills improve rapidly. Sadly, this can
lead to over-confidence and taking risks for which they might not be prepared. It takes time and
a wide variety of venues to reach the level in which a very experienced paddler can nail a line
nearly every time even with the myriad of surprises thrown out by Mother Nature. Sadly, many
starting this sport haven’t had suitable training and are unaware of more subtle risks and how to
recognize them.
Many older paddlers take on unacceptable risk as well. As we get older, our reaction time,
balance, and strength start to diminish. Yes, extensive experience helps to mitigate, but only so
much. It’s tough for many in their 50s to maintain adequate fitness when they have been
working at desk jobs for most of their lives. Eventually we all need to dial back, and that can be
a bitter pill to swallow. On the plus side, you can help many younger paddlers by introducing
them to many of your favorite runs.
Older paddlers may also hang on to outdated gear that might not be safe. Besides maintaining
physical fitness, it pays to inspect all gear annually and to replace items that may no longer
provide suitable safety. Play very close attention to helmets and life jackets. Equipment failures
are still rather common and can lead to nasty surprises.
Most bad accidents are an accumulation of bad decisions. Recovery from individual decisions
may be easy, but when there are a series of decisions, they tend to multiply the chances for bad
outcomes.
Whenever an incident takes place: STOP → EVALUATE → PROCEED.
• For example, someone takes a long swim.
• No big deal, we performed a reasonable rescue.
• But more analysis is warranted:
▪ What caused the spill?
▪ Are they tired?
▪ Was there an equipment issue?
▪ Are they showing signs of hypothermia?
▪ Do they have any injuries?
Now that you have performed a full assessment, you can implement mitigations to avoid
a repeat like pairing them with two other experienced paddlers.
Many paddlers don’t want to be a burden to others. They may be embarrassed by the unexpected
swim. I carry a skull cap in my PFD pocket, and it has been used by many other the years for
extra warmth because it was quickly available.
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All swims in long rapids should be addressed with a high priority. Flush drowning is the number
one cause of fatalities for experienced paddlers and can happen quickly. Swimmers lack the
ability to see downstream and are at a far higher risk of getting snagged on strainers. As always,
concentrate on the person first, then the boat and paddle.
Learn the warning signs of fear:
• Analysis Paralysis: Many choose to wait until everyone else has run a rapid before
launching. They rationalize that by seeing many lines that can help them choose the best
one. Unfortunately, this places them in the worst position; the most difficult for others to
perform rescues for that paddler.
• Difficulty Swallowing: This is a big warning sign. A certain amount of fear can be healthy.
If you are at this level of fear, it’s time to portage the rapid. There may be a next time when
you have more experience.
• Unusual Repeated Mistakes: This is somewhat common when paddlers are stepping up to
more difficult runs, for which they might not be ready. Some runs have a reputation.
Unfortunately, people are very much influenced by the hype. You may notice the paddler
running rapids rather stiffly. They make it through the tough rapids, but repeatedly flip in
eddies and much easier rapids afterwards. This is a good time to slow down and work with
them. Choose good sneak lines to build their confidence.
• Significant Behavioral Changes: Some get angry; others become extremely quiet and inward
directed. We know how people typically behave, consider this to be their baseline. When
their behavior changes are quite noticeable, chances are that something is not quite right, and
they may feel intimidated. This is a great time to call a break to give them a chance to take a
breather and reset.
Master Yoda has many interesting quotes regarding fear in Star Wars, this is perhaps his most
famous: "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads
to suffering.". In paddling, we can rephrase this as follows: Fear is the path to the Dark Side.
Fear leads to danger. Danger leads to accidents. Accidents lead to suffering (injuries). Only by
recognizing fear can we take the necessary steps to deal with it. Recognizing and dealing with
fear is crucial to good judgment.
TRIP REPORTS The Toe Gorge—Beth Koller
This five plus mile stretch of North Carolina river is fun at a variety of levels. There is always
some guessing about the water levels because the gauge is on the South Toe. Even when one is at
the put-in, the water is so clear that it is hard to assess depth. So we took a chance when the
water situation for the Chattahoochee River (northern Georgia) looked marginal. As the nominal
trip organizer for this North Carolina Week of River trip, I knew that I could boat scout and eddy
hop my way down. I knew that we needed to head northeast on US 19/23 in the direction of
Burnsville, Spruce Pine, and Micaville (the reason it is such a sparkling run). Fortunately,
Richard Hopley had that covered. We had a crew from far-flung locations: Georgia, Maryland,
New York, and Ohio, one of whom had transplanted to the South. Lisa decided to use a paddle
instead of her usual hand paddles. It was a fabulous day. Although the river was lower than
earlier in the week, after the first half-mile, it was busy, busy, busy! We had the time to take a
couple of breaks. The only real slog was the short, steep climb out. The day was topped off with
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a terrific meal at Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen in Waynesville, North Carolina (828-246-
6111; birchwoodhall.com; 111 North Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786).
Richard makes a splash Anne does a Keelhauler ferry
Carl eddies out Lisa with her big paddle
Lisa takes a technical route Loretta in the main chute
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Loretta surfs The zig-zag route
Richard on the main line; Anne eddies Good waves
Carl blasting through Steve making a wet ferry
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Anne zips into eddy 1 Anne zips into eddy 2
Lisa drives into the current Another eddy for Steve
Leg stretch for Lisa at break #1 Carl relaxes
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Loretta cross-strokes Lisa in her element
Richard & Steve at lunch
Richard & fellow canoeists Maximal cross-bow effort
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Take-out teamwork Quick loading required Some not happy about parking
Southern cooking with a twist http://birchwoodhall.com/wp-content/uploads/birchwoodhall-dinner-menu.pdf
July Casselman Trip—Dave Cooke
When we scan the screen anxiously for signs of enough rain to float the boats, it’s a source of
solace to reflect on seldom used paddling opportunities in out of the way places.
Beyond the dam releases on the North Branch at Bloomington and the gateway to the Yough, the
two westernmost counties of Maryland have a great deal to offer to the whitewater paddler. I’ve
heard it said that the Casselman River, which flows north from Garrett County into Somerset
County in PA, lacks challenge for the aggressive boater. Perhaps for some. But when the on-
line Markleton gauge topped five feet after unusually heavy rains in early July, the numerous
intermediate class rapids provided plenty of excitement on July 8. And most of them hold two or
three canoeable lines that aren’t there at lower levels. The list of rapids follows, and, on this day,
we ran the lot of them! (The names of the rapids and their descriptions come courtesy of Tony
Allred.)
"Terminator Hole"
Class: 3-
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Mile: 0.4
A little ways down, not long into the run, the river makes a bend to the left. In this bend, is a
large, munchy hole, "Terminator Hole" (Class 3 minus), in the center and center right of the
river. The hole is easily avoidable on the left and, at most levels, there is a more difficult line to
the far right.
"Let’s Make A Deal"
Class: 2
Mile: 0.7
There are three slots from which to choose; the rightmost one is the easiest.
"Lunch Rock"
Class: 2
Mile: 1.9
After a while, the river turns to the left at a huge railroad cut. At low water levels, the river
shoals-out in the turn, and the line is to stay far left--just left of a small, rocky/gravely island. At
higher water levels, you can run it anywhere--although the island becomes a pour-over to be
avoided. The river comes together below the little island and forms a nice surfing wave against a
large rock formation, "Lunch Rock", on river right with the old railroad (bike trail) bridge
immediately below.
"Pinkerton Rocks"
Class: 2+
Mile: 2.3
The rapid begins with a somewhat blind turn through some rocks. At lower and moderate water
levels, there are slots to the center and left that can be run as well as a shoaly slot on the right.
These are usually Class 2 plus to Class 3 minus. Above four feet, the slots in the center and left
are solid Class 3 rapids, and the right slot becomes a sneak route.
"Turtle Claw"
Class: 2+
Mile: 2.7
This rapid just a little below "Pinkerton Rocks" is called "Turtle Claw". At the top of the rapid,
on the river right end of a ledge running out from the river left shore, there is a rock that looks a
little like a turtle shell. There is a center right tongue past this ledge, and the cautious paddler
should stay on the right side of this tongue because there are two offset rocks, the actual "Claw",
which reside just beneath the surface on the left side of the tongue and which can cause prob-
lems. This is not to say that an aggressive paddler wouldn't be able to boof the turtle shell rock
into the eddy behind the ledge, but if the boof is sloppy or missed, the downstream rocks can
come into play. They have flipping potential. At certain water levels, the usually hidden rocks
can become a rooster tail.
"High Bridge"
Class: 2
Mile: 3.5
When the second old railroad (bike trail) bridge becomes visible, start moving to river left. Enter
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the next rapid on the left, but move to the center as the tongue picks up speed to avoid a large
hole and one or two smaller ones (depending upon the level) on far river left. All three of these
holes are usually surfable.
"High Bridge Surfing Waves" AKA "Surflab 2"
Class: 2
Mile: 3.7
Right below the second railroad bridge, the river turns left, and there is a large eddy and small
beach on river left. At certain levels (2.25 to 3 feet), there are some nice surfing waves on river
right at this location as well. At higher levels, the surfing waves wash out.
“Cucumber Run Waterfall”
Class: Not applicable
Mile: 4.8
On a small creek on river left.
"Tossed Salad"
Class: 3
Mile: 4.9
After the waterfall on river left is another rapid (Class 3) called "Tossed Salad" because it's about
100 yards downstream from the Cucumber run waterfall and because it mixes things up a
bit. This rapid can be run left or right, but requires hole punching, eddy catching, and
maneuvering either way.
"The Ledges"
Class: 2+
Mile: 5.5
The next rapid is on a sweeping left turn and starts with a river wide shoal that can be snuck at
low water with a left to center move. As the rapid gathers speed, there are a series of diagonal
waves that can be punched or surfed on the fly. Note, there are no staging eddies.
But one shouldn’t limit the trip to just one day. After a heavy rain, even in July, there is a part of
the Casselman that flows from Garrett County north into Pennsylvania before it becomes the
well-known whitewater venue. Under just such conditions, I drove the five miles to Grantsville
on Route 40, turning right on River Road before the entrance to the Penn Alps complex. In less
than a mile, the Casselman, which runs parallel to River Road, widens and presents plenty of
access used by fishermen and the occasional boater. The nearest landmark, on the left, is a series
of vacation water’s edge-type cabins (“Meschach Browning’s Cabins on the River”), after which
the road crosses the river on a two-lane bridge. Put on just before the bridge, on river right. The
walk down the river bank is brief and not steep, even with a canoe, and there is room for two
vehicles on paved surface off the road on the right.
Without rain, this stretch of the Casselman is just a lazy river, similar in appearance to the Lower
Antietam at low water. But on this day in early July, after a series of rainfalls had pounded the
region, it was “café au lait” racing to an unknown destination. Aided by some limited comments
in Ed Gertler’s “Keystone Canoeing, and Maryland & Delaware Canoe Trails)” regarding the
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absence of serious rapids, I bet that I could spot strainers downriver. I put on just upstream of the
aforementioned bridge. The river ran north swiftly, under bridges and through farmland for
about four miles to Salisbury, PA. The first three miles were like the image of a small intestine,
or at least a switchback trail, constantly winding back and forth. There were a few stretches of
downriver sight lines, but also several blind curves. In width, it resembled the South Branch of
the Patapsco, but there were no strainers on this day, nor were there any rapids. This was a
peaceful, swift paddle with no obstacles, but no worries about paddling solo, either. The next
time, I’ll arrange to be picked up in Meyersdale, about twice the distance. Or, if I can lure
anyone else to join me, paddle the 14 miles from Garrett (PA) to Markleton, as described in
Keystone Canoeing.
Valley Falls Waterfall Clinic--Gina Cunningham, A National Paddling Film Fest Director
On August 17-18, my husband, Jim, and I traveled north from Kentucky to paddle the Youghio-
gheny and then on to Valley Falls. On the 17th, we were excited to do the Lower Yough at a
normal level. Our only “other” exposure to that beautiful river was at 5’9”. Verrrry different
river! We enjoyed it immensely both times.
That evening, we traveled to Fairmont, WV so that we could make the Valley Falls Clinic
offered by Jeff Prycl from Rocky Mountain Kayaking on Sunday the 18th. First, let me say that
you can tell this gentleman has probably forgotten more than I will ever learn about kayaking
and is due a tremendous amount of respect. He comes across as having a lot of patience. And,
what is so impressive to me is that he has been conducting this clinic for several years at no cost
to participants--because he loves the sport. That’s an awfully big heart. Anyway...I cannot say
enough kind words about him and our experience.
Overall, I think we were told there were nearly 100 participants in the clinic. At first, we did not
understand his methodology, but, as soon as we got in the water, it was clear. He wanted us to
imagine paddle placement on a visual marker. Good call. It also allowed him the opportunity to
identify paddlers with problem paddle strokes BEFORE they went over a waterfall, where
problem strokes could “problematic “. Pretty smart.
I don’t think there was a single paddler in that clinic that he missed evaluating with his watchful
eye and giving constructive criticism. He watched us all, one by one, going over the first
waterfall (river left). The whole day you would hear him calling out: “sweep stroke” “leaning”
“didn’t know where you were, did you?” You look over and you would see a kind, tanned face
smiling a big, toothy grin..... You could not help but feel good about the experience.
Then we moved on to a rock slide followed by a slot where you needed to boof toward the river
right. I think, overall we must have done 30+ boofs each that day.
The highlight of the day, however, was watching one particular kayaker boof the slot so
gracefully that, instantly, you knew this fella was a good boater. Jeff turned around to us and
said “Now, THAT was a good boof!”. Someone in the crowd replied “Well, it SHOULD
be...that guy is Knox Hammack! He just got back from dropping off a 189 foot waterfall out
West...”. I’m just gonna say it.....DAAAAY-Yum!
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So. I would definitely go back to Valley Falls—especially for the clinic. Jeff did a fantastic
job. I hope he continues this clinic for many years to come. It’s worth taking the time to listen
to what he has to teach. And, Beth, it was a tremendous pleasure getting to meet you, as
well. Great job helping the kid with the dislocated shoulder. Someone get this lady a pop-up
tent? It’s hot out there... 😎 (Beth was photographing paddlers.)
Regina—calm, cool, and collected Jim—at the brink of the falls
The Needles on Sunday, August 4—The Largest BRV Trip of 2019---Mike Martin
Early August brought low water to the Potomac basin, and it seemed like a good time to spend a
sunny, windless day on the river on the Needles section of the Potomac near Harper’s Ferry,
WV. I’d been meaning to organize a Needles trip to take advantage of the arrangements
Monocacy Canoe Club’s Bob Whiting had made for area canoe club members to use the River
Riders’ put-in at Bakerton and the Harpers Ferry Adventure Center’s (HFAC) take-out below the
Route 340 bridge. The Canoe Cruisers Association has been working with the National Park
Service to open or improve access points on public lands in the area, and using the River Rider
and HFAC access points has, at times in the past, been problematic. This year, BRV and CCA
split a flat fee of $100 for club members to use the Bakerton put-in. I’m pleased to report that the
arrangements worked seamlessly on other Needles/Staircase trips this year.
Within a few days of proposing the trip, I’d received a lot of interest, and decided to complicate
things a bit by proposing a split take-out option. Most of us wanting a longer trip met at
Brunswick at noon, and we caravanned to the former Cindy Dee’s restaurant (now The Guide
House Grill) on Keep Tryst Road in Knoxville, MD to rendezvous with the others who wanted
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to take out at the HFAC. For once, I arrived ten minutes early in Bakerton for the trip and found
the rest of the group already there and cross-loaded. We arrived at Cindy Dee’s early, and folks
were there and pretty much ready to go. I expected to have some cat herding to do with a large
group on trip like this, but the two groups self-organized, and all I needed to do was show up and
go along for the ride. I’m not surprised. After a few more than 20 years of club boating, I’m still
the newbie compared to the rest of the folks on the trip, except for one new CCA member who
wanted to join us: Anna Normand.
Before the trip, Anna told me she paddled an old Grumman OC-2 and had a lot of experience
paddling flat water. She asked whether she and the boat could handle the Needles, which set off
a red flag in my mind about her pinning the boat, etc. Then she mentioned she had already run
the Staircase (at below canoe zero) the day before and had taken several National Outdoor
Leadership School (NOLS) courses. As I recall, she never even hit a rock on the trip and bossed
that big barge around like seasoned voyageur. She bought an OC-1 from Ron Knipling this Fall,
so look to see her on the river next year.
The leisurely float down to the Brunswick boat ramp was delightful in the late-day sunshine and
called for investigating the contents of several on board coolers. The folks who took out at the
HFAC reported a swift, easy shuttle up the hill, and the beer and food at HFACs’ river overlook
pub enjoyed by Beth, Bob, Gary, Ginny, and John really hit the spot. My only regret about the
trip is that the big group wound up running the Needles section too quickly. Even with a lunch
break, we were already passing through Whitehorse Rapid in about two hours.
Participants: Courtney Caldwell, Dean Geis, Lori Geis, Beth Koller, Mike Martin, Tom
McCloud, Cory Minnick, David Newsom, Anna Normand, Gary Quam, Ginny Quam, Kathleen
Sengstock, Carrie Singer, John Snitzer, Hendrik van Oss, Chip Walsh, Bob Whiting, and Craig
Wolfe.
Photo credits: Beth
Mike picking a line Carrie working her way a overlapping routes
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Chip doing a little poling New member, Anna, paddled with style
Everybody out for lunch—even though we paddled less than two miles!
Cheers! Dave chills
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That recent hull damage is fixed! Lori & Dean relax
Chip with his canoe pole Craig transformed Bob after a dip
Tom (Coastals) joins the fun The area of a recent landslide Gary transitions to a solo boat
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Anna in her loooooong boat Carrie surfs everywhere
Dave in his trusty C-1 Courtney glides along
Gary & Ginny approach Harpers Ferry Chip switches to a paddle
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Ginny in the White Horse wave train Hendrik making waves
John S. in a wave trough Kathleen on a ferry move
Mike in his stride Decision time: Brunswick or the new takeout
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Craig nearing the first take-out Note the absence of a take-out vertical climb!
Loading boats for the steep shuttle climb Ginny, Gary, & Carrie
Ginny, Carrie, & John ready for the truck to do the upward drive to the take-out parking lot
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BOATING HUMOR Musings from the Mind of Ed
The instructor said: "We may record your swim for quality assurance purposes. [But more likely
we will pass around the recording of your swim as late night camp fire entertainment.]"
In the “I Don't Get No Respect” mode: Strainers, undercuts, and bad hydraulics are claiming
discrimination and demanding equal treatment with the more popular river features.
Whitewater is serious paddling.
→If the guy next to you is water skiing, you ain't on whitewater.
→If the guy next to you is fishing and drinking, no way.
→If you look ahead and see the tops of trees, you are doing whitewater.
→If the gal next to you is parachuting and you both have a long way to go until you both eddy
out, that's whitewater.
→If the guy next to you is on downhill skis, you are doing cool whitewater.
My eye doctor prescribed goggles for me since I wasn't seeing the rocks and rapids like I should.
On my next visit, he asked me how the goggles were doing. I said: "Goggles! No wonder I'm
doing so badly. I thought you said I should try out “Googles”.
FEATURE ARTICLE #2 Wilderness First Aid: Sport Specific—Charlie Duffy
Introduction
Winter is a great time to take first aid training. I’ve taken Wilderness First Aid (WFA) courses
for many years and have had to use these skills periodically on paddling trips. When choosing a
provider, make sure they are from a recognized organization like SOLO, NOLS, Red Cross, etc.
After that, it may be beneficial to see if your instructor has experience in your sport as each sport
has very different types of injuries and certainly very different challenges in their venues. I’ve
also found that classes filled mostly with paddlers are quite beneficial as well.
Basic Curriculum
Most wilderness first aid (WFA) courses cover the same core curriculum:
• Patient assessment: initial and focused
• Chest injuries
• Shock
• Head (brain) and spinal injuries
• Bone and joint injuries
• Wounds and wound infection
• Allergies and anaphylaxis
• Scenarios
These issues have wide applicability to all sports. After that, the WFA instructor can add a wide
variety of electives:
• Abdominal problems
• Hypothermia
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• Heat disorders
• Lightning
• Altitude illnesses
• Submersion
• Wilderness first-aid kits
Targeted Curriculum
Unfortunately, the vast majority of WFA courses are targeted to backpackers. One look at the
list of items many instructors ask us to bring reveals the problem; the list includes backpacks
with frames, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, etc. Many courses spend significant time on altitude
sickness and either skip shoulder dislocations or spend very little time on that subject. Those
courses are quite targeted, but to very different outdoor activities.
Paddling Specific Injuries
Paddling injury types and frequency are very different from most other sports. Backpackers and
hikers have very different injuries. Flush drowning, hypothermia, and shoulder dislocations are
quite common on paddling trips. Knowing how to deal with these particular issues is critical.
Many WFA courses pay little attention to paddlesport accident avoidance. Swiftwater rescue
training provides some of this very specialized guidance and experience.
Tools vary widely in sports as well. Paddler first aid kits must be both crushproof and fully
submersible; neither is an issue for backpackers. Dressing injuries for paddlers is a bit more
complicated as we need to deal with dressings getting wet so Tegaderm and Vet Wrap are very
useful. Improvisation is a big part of WFA training. Backpackers can use their frames for an
improvised litter. Paddlers have a wealth of gear applicable to first aid such as: the pin kit, spray
skirts, throw rope bags, folding saws, etc. Paddlers can carry more weight that backpackers as
well. A WFA course for paddlers can (and should) target a number of paddling specific scenarios
using only equipment you typically carry during your trips.
Scene size up is quite unique in paddling venues. First aid administration in drowning incidents
is often integrated with rescues as it may take too long to bring a person to shore. Finally, a sport
specific wilderness first aid course enables the instructor to provide more emphasis on common
issues and design scenarios that help reinforce critical skills such as how to diagnose and
perform shoulder dislocation reduction or quickly expelling water from a drowning victim to
ensure that rescue breaths are effective.
Summary
When choosing your wilderness first aid provider, it doesn’t hurt to ask which types of sports in
which they participate and their level of experience in that particular activity. If you are part of a
paddling organization, consider organizing a group training event as the type of questions your
fellow students will be asking will be very relevant to your specific needs.
Although the composition of first aid kits is an WFA elective, I strongly recommend extra time
spent on this topic to help you properly customize a kit that meets your specific needs. Prior to
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attending a WFA class, think about issues you have encountered--what worked and what didn’t.
Ask questions about those challenges when the appropriate topic comes up.
Wilderness first aid training is very valuable and requires periodic training to stay current on the
latest protocols. Courses are scheduled frequently, inexpensive, and WFA classes are only a
weekend commitment. All course providers from well-known certifying organizations provide
lots of valuable knowledge regardless of their sport specific experience. Choosing a provider
with knowledge of your sport may provide additional value.
FOR SALE OR SWAP Sea Kayak
Joe Fehrer is reducing his fleet and is hoping to sell his Night Heron kayak.
Specifications: Model Length Hull Weight Beam Max Payload Cockpit Size Paddler Weight
Stitch & Glue Night Heron 18’0’’ 41 lbs. 20 in. 300 lbs. 29’’ x 16’’ 150-220 lbs.
Designed by Nick Schade based on Greenland Inuit hull designs to have a higher prismatic
coefficient and good efficiency at faster speeds.
• The foredeck "chine" provides clearance for keeping paddle stroke entry close to the boat
regardless of the paddle angle and provides room for your knees and feet.
• Tracks more stiffly due to a slight sharper "V" at the stem and stern. The boat is more
responsive to edged turns because the plywood construction has the more defined "hard"
chine.
• This high performance boat is at home out on the open water and while exploring distant
shores. It is fast and efficient, surfs easily, and is a very secure boat in rough water.
Plans from Chesapeake Light Craft.
Built by the seller in 2012.
• The hull has two layers of bi-directional 3 oz. fiberglass cloth. The hull is finished with a
matrix of MAS epoxy and graphite for a “fast” surface.
• The deck is covered with one layer of 4 oz. fiberglass cloth and MAS epoxy.
• The cockpit area is covered with Kevlar cloth for durability.
• The seam between the hull and deck joint is joined with 1.5” Kevlar tape.
• The deck and cockpit are finished with five coats of Interlux “Schooner Gold”
polyurethane.
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Condition: The boat is lightly used and has been garage-kept.
Beautiful: Accepted in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art
Price: $2,400 (negotiable)
Includes two spray skirts (winter and summer) and a cockpit cover.
Possibly includes a Werner “Camano” paddle.
Contact information: 410-430-1743 (cell) (Cape Charles, VA)
PARTING SHOTS AT THE TAKE-OUT Wild and Scenic River Stamps
These stamp blocks were some of the door prizes given out at the Holiday Party. On how many
of these rivers have you paddled? If you like these stamps, hurry to the post office. They are
going quickly. Coming soon, images of quarters with scenic waterways—courtesy of Ed
Evangelidi.
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This and That
American Whitewater
BRV is an affiliate club member of the American Whitewater Association. As such, BRV
members are eligible to join for $25.
National Paddling Film Festival
The NPFF will be held at the Buffalo Trace Distillery (113 Great Buffalo Trace, Frankfort, KY)
on February 21 and 22 (http://npff.org/). Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. In
addition to the movies, there will be three guest speakers: Adriene Levknecht, Nouria Newman,
and Travis Overstreet. There will be a silent auction and a raffle with some big items including a
kayak and a pack-raft. There will be a chili contest. There will be distillery tours. And if that is
not enough, there will be a “Not the Paddling Film Fest” Race (on the Elkhorn) sponsored by the
Viking Canoe Club. There will also be a chance to try out new boats. So come with your gear.
You have time to submit your videos or still images. That deadline is February 5.
http://npff.org/film-entry/
Whitewater Releases
We are still looking for release data from the Army Corps of Engineers for a variety of rivers
including Bloomington and the Lehigh, but the usual websites are not functional or have not
been updated.
A bad day or a good day?
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BRV MEMBERSHIP/ROSTER INFORMATION Name/Spouse Name:
Address:
Phone: home: work: cell:
E-mail address(es) (in order of preference or marked by location work vs personal):
Preferred Boat: K-1 C-1 OC-1 K-2 C-2 OC-2 Inflatable kayak Shredder Raft Other(s):
Other boat types used: K-1 C-1 OC-1 K-2 C-2 OC-2 Inflatable kayak Shredder Raft Sea
kayak Stand-up paddleboard Sit-atop kayak Other(s):
Preferred boating difficulty level(s) WW grade range: (perhaps by boat type): Flatwater (under what
circumstances):
Other types of boating aspects: Cold weather paddling Canoe camping trips Extended trips Family
boating Play boating Racing Removal of safety hazards-gauge painting River conservation
activities Safety clinics Boating for service activities (e.g., safety support for races/ triathlons,
teaching) Other(s):
Availability for weekday paddling: Yes No If yes, times/days:
Other activities that you might participate in during longer trips or with low water or cold conditions:
Biking Hiking Skiing (DH) Skiing (XC) Other(s):
Willingness to lead a trip or clinic (can include limits as to type or location of trip): Other ways in which
you are helping BRV (or another club): Officer/Board member Newsletter contributor Photos for
web Program presentation Social activities Trip solicitation Other(s):
Ways in which you could help BRV: Officer/Board member Newsletter contributor Photos for web
Program presentation Social activities Trip solicitation Other(s):
Membership in other clubs Benscreek CCA Conowingo Carolina Coastals Greater Baltimore
Mason-Dixon Keelhaulers Monocacy TSRA 3-Rivers Other(s):
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QUICK TRIP REPORT Trip date(s):_________________________________________________________________________
Trip destination(s):___________________________________________________________________
Trip participants:_____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Water levels/gauge readings:____________________________________________________________
Any access or safety issues:_____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Notable aspects on or off the river:_______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Photos available:_____________________________________________________________________
Can be submitted to newsletter editor electronically (brvnewsletter [at] earthlink.net) or via mail PO Box
9513 Silver Spring, MD 20916
The club is about fun and camaraderie.
It can’t happen without YOU!!! If you can organize a trip or a conservation activity, please consider adding it to the web
calendar and the newsletter. If you want to do it, it is likely that someone would like to do it as
well.
If you can put together a program or have an idea for a program, please consider contacting a
club officer. We have ProShow Gold for the preparation of digital slide shows.
Get your club sticker from Mike Martin (Webmaster)
OR go to the website for directions about ordering items with the logo.
Neither the newsletter nor the contents of this newsletter may be duplicated or recirculated without
permission of the editor.